Hello amazing-support-forum people!
I am "the wife". Husband dx with BOT HPV+ SCC in March. Started chemo cycles in April and just finished the last round of three. Radiation w/ chemo on deck for next week, five days a week for seven weeks along with more chemo once per week.

You guys? I haven't heard anyone talking about "fluoride trays"! He had a dentist give him the "all clear" for treatment, but after reading (and reading and reading) I think he should be preparing his mouth for the next phase by using Fluoride. I will call them on Tuesday.

Thank you, everyone! This forum is amazing. We are hanging in there, but frankly, it's really rough on our whole family.
Onward!

Lucy, welcome to OCF. Glad you found the forum to help get you thru the upcoming treatments.

If use the search function over towards the top right you will find many posts about flouride trays. This is a topic that is brought up often as it is one of the basics that need to be taken care of when beginning treatments. The search function can be used for just about any topic you have a question about. Also try just going in thru the left side and seeing what topics are under each tab that you are interested in. You can read non stop for weeks there is so much info on the forum, dont forget the main OCF pages as well.

Best wishes!

Yes, look into the fluoride trays, prescription fluoride, mouth guards to prevent radiation scatter, rinses, and oral care. In retrospect, I may have made a mistake not getting fluoride trays, but my mouth was already compromised just from Chemo, which did as much damage to my mouth from the severe mucocitis, cadiasiss, other infections, and lack oral care when hospitlized. Anyway, I need most of my teeth extracted now, and will have to do 30 HBO dives, 20 before, 10 after, to prevent PRON, post radiation osteonecrosis, which I did before. I did get an "all clear" after having several fillings, root canal, and one extraction before starting radiation, which was a year after my chemo, but the radiation still causes damage to the saliva, weakens teeth, resulting in demineralization of the teeth or radiation caries. I didn't see an oncology dentist then, long story, but I do now, and recommend you see one, preferably associated with your CCC. Good luck.

Hi Lucy,

The subject of dental treatment and the side effects was one that was not covered thoroughly prior to my treatment. I had one tooth extracted and a deep cleaning as well as a fluoride treatment prior to treatment. You are NOT to get deep cleanings after treatment! My dentist had to give me a letter giving me the all clear to give to my team.

It was recommended that I use a fluoride rinse as opposed to trays. I use Listerine rinse for kids (it doesn't burn) 1-2 times a day after brushing.

Unfortunately, it's a crap shoot as some with excellent teeth and dental health suffer issues years after treatment. I finished treatment a month ago and have had sensitivity in my teeth from about the 4th week of treatment on.

If you're at a CCC, they should have a dentist on staff that specializes in H&N cancers that can advise you as to the best way to maintain dental health during and after treatment.

"T"

Hi.. yes your hubby should have flouride trays made for him by a dental oncologist, and he should use them religiously for the rest of his life. Tooth issues with people who've had radiation can lead to serious jaw issues. If he ever has to have a tooth pulled it requires Hyperberic treatments etc... and it can cause ORN (osteoradionecrosis) if the jaw, which could lead to a jaw replacement. So if he is keeping his teeth he really needs to be diligent about oral care forever. I'm not exaggerating here. There are many people who five years out have survived the cancer but have terrible fallout from the radiation to their jaw.

best of luck.

Definitely get the fluoride trays. I used from 1 month PRE rad until appx 5 years post rads and I have not had one as in any teeth problems since rads began. One caution, if you have cats DO NOT leave those trays out. They will find them and they will hide them. I guarantee it.